The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-22
For the Herald and News.
The Prosperity Clerkship.

In the Prosperity correspondence Of
the Newberry HERALD AND News, Of
August 25th, over the nom de plume of
"Yube," there appeared the following
paragraph:
"Last week the Prosperity Press aud
Reporter announced that the business re-
lat1ons of Mr. A. NJ. Lester were of such
character that he could not accept the po-
sition of town clerk to which he had been
elected This week Mr.. Lester assumed
the duties of said Office. Nothing
strange happens in times OF war
The above paragraph seems to have
elected the following ''card" from Mr.. A.
NJ. Lester:
Forthe Press and Reporter.
CARD.
This is to certify that what was in the
local columns of the Press and Reporter
of August 18, 1887, concerning my busl-
ness being such as would prevent my
serving as clerk and treasurer OF the
town council was correct. And was what
I informed the local editor. [ am only
holding On at present by request OF coun-
Gil. A. NJ. LESTER.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the idea conveyed,
and the inference drawn from the above
certificate is that l have reflected upon the
reracity of the local editor of the Press
and Reporter, or at the least have treated
him with injustice. I emphaticaliy dis
claim any such intention, and do not
think that any such construction can be
placed upon the language that I used; if
so, my memory in regard to construction
and precision has become exceedingly
treacherous. Let US examine the Ian
guage. of the sinful paragraph briefly.
The first proposition is, that Mr.. Lester
was elected town clerk, and so stated by
the Press and Reporter in local columns.
This is correct-no one denies it. I did
not deny it. The second proposition is
that Mr.. Lester, on account of business
relations, could not accept. This is
truth which no one will attempt to deny.
Then follows this language 'This week
Mr.. Lester assumed the duties of said Of
fee" This is also correct. Mr.. Lester,
himself, says it is true. Then where, Oh
where, is my crime? 1t is truth that
Mr.. Lester was elected town clerk; it is
truth that he said he could not accept, &C.;
it is truth that afterwards he did serve
and is still serving. Nothing wrong in
this-surely not. A man has a perfect
right to change his opinion, and ali wise
men do. There is no human so infallible
or immutable as not infrequently to find
a change of opinion beneficial. But it may
be that the trouble lies in the last SEN
tence--a quotation Nothing strange
happens in times of war" Ii so, let US
try and explain it. It is a phrase that
had it's origin in camp life. 1t was pro-
verbal among the soldiers. For instance,
a "stray" Minnie ball kills a lonely picket
mile distant. Nothing strange. A shell
explodes in the ranks and kills dozen
men. Nothing strange. Again it plows
harmlessly through the ranks. Nothing
strange. Men go hungry and ragged.
Nothing strange. Soldiers march through
ice and snow with bleeding feet. Nothing
strange. Nothing strange to 60 without
food or money. Nothing strange for your
right and left comrade to be shot on either
side of you, and hundreds of other things
happened in times of war. The idea con-
veyed in my quotation is that it was not
at all strange, and surely no harm for Mr..
Lester to change his opinion if he saw ft
and proper. do not desire newspaper
controversy with any one. I am a weak
newspaper correspondent, but I have al
ways given and will eyer endeavor to
give the public a truthful and faithful re-
port of all things proper to be written in
and around our town, and to advance the
best interests of our town and commu-
nifty. .. B. WHITES.